Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan--Our Lasting Legacy of Hate

When the Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked Us passenger aircraft and struck US targets killing over 3,000 civilians our country responded by attacking Afghanistan where we now have been at war there for over 9 years. The country of Afghanistan whose population is about 33 million has suffered over 3,000 civilian deaths caused by air-borne bombs and missiles and untold numbers from ground fire according to published information. The total number of civilian deaths will only be etched in the hearts of survivors whose loved ones died as so-called collateral damage. These civilian deaths are actually much larger in number than the published information since the real count of civilian corpses cannot ever be established.But if we use only the estimated lower count of 3,000 this is equivalent to about .01% of the total population. If the same proportion of our population were to perish as a result of collateral killing of civilians the number of dead men, women, and children would equal at least 30,000. The number of indirectly affected people would exceed 300,000 if surviving family members and friends are included, let alone co workers and distant relatives. Our country would demand immediate response to stop the murders of innocent civilians.

Yet, as the war in Afghanistan continues and now more than 1,000 NATO troops have died in combat we continue to kill civilians at an escalating rate using drones that shower bombs with little or no discrimination of combatants and civilians who are treated alike by bombs and missiles. alike. When this war finally stops we will be remembered as the killers of innocent civilians and hatred and revenge will permeate the Afghanistan survivors. The ultimate result of this senseless war will be the growth of anti USA feelings and the innocent people of Afghanistan will be easily manipulated by terrorist groups to seek revenge.

The irony of all this senseless killing is that the original attacks by Al Qaeda were not conducted by Afghani's but mainly by Saudi Arabian citizens who had usurped land in Afghanistan for training purposes.

The result of this continuing war that keeps killing Afghanistan civilians and our troops alike will be more hate against us and more, not less terrorism. We must stop the combat and help the Afghanistan people regain their country and their own governance system.